The most compelling drama involves the Bruins, who have three games left and may, or may not, make the playoffs. It’s that close. OK, you say you’re not a hockey fan. The Bruins left your stream of consciousness years ago, about the same time the entire National Hockey League did. Lighten up. Pull for the Bruins to make the playoffs, if for no other reason than it would enhance Boston’s reputation as a sports bonanza town, the envy of fans around the country.

With the Celtics, there never was a doubt about playing in April. Many expect them to be playing in May and June. That possibility popped up the moment Kevin Garnett pulled the No. 5 jersey over his head for the first time.

It’s been a while since we’ve had both denizens of the Garden in the postseason. Let’s have fun with it.

Plus, Bruins coach Claude Julien seems like a nice guy.

When it comes to nice guys, Boston College coach Jerry York is at the top of the list. Just ask anyone who knows him. You could fly to the moon easier than you could find anyone who has a bad thing to say about York. Along the way, Mr. Nice Guy has managed to win 801 games.

York’s 800th win, making him the second-winningest coach in college hockey, came Saturday against Minnesota. In the lockerroom after the game, you would have thought it was York’s 107th win or something. York made no mention of 800. It was the farthest thing from his mind.

April is synonymous with baseball, but the Red Sox were already playing games that count in March. Tonight is their first game in North America. They play in Oakland. Boston will have played games in the Far East, in southern and northern California and Canada before their home opener a week from today. They’ll probably kiss the sacred Fenway ground.

It’ll be Ring Day at Fenway, the second one in four years. As Joe Castiglione might say, “Can you believe it?”

The first week of April also rewards us with the NCAA Final Four. Personally, I’m pulling for John Calipari’s Memphis Tigers. Maybe it ended on a sour note, but the run his UMass Minutemen had in 1996 is unforgettable. UMass crushed a formidable Allen Iverson Georgetown team in the tournament. Ordinarily, UMass beating the haughty Hoyas would have been unthinkable.

OK, the women’s tournament has no Boston reference, but it’s leading up to a UConn-Tennessee championship game that could be spectacular.

These teams hate each other. UConn coach Geno Auriemma and counterpart Pat Summitt will be faking any handshake. These teams used to play once a year during the regular season. Summitt called the game off this year, and blew the whistle on UConn for what the Vols perceived a recruiting violation concerning Lady Huskies’ freshman superstar Maya Moore. Naturally, Summitt was recruiting Moore, too.

For tennis fans looking for a ride in the time machine, John McEnroe plays Pete Sampras when the Champions tour stops at Agganis Arena later this month.

For running devotees, April also means the deluge of Boston Marathon stories are upon us. It also means the MLS is back, and your Revs are in first place (hey, 1-0 is 1-0). Is this the year the Revs win The Big One? After all, the Kraft family is starving for a championship team. Their other one just isn’t getting it done. Segue to the NFL Draft at the end of the month.

These are all good things. You can have April in Paris. April in Boston is no slouch.

Lenny Megliola is a Daily News columnist. His e-mail is lennymegs@aol.com

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